New Faces All Around …Spring Football Has Arrived

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Today marked the beginning of the 2014 season for Northern Arizona football as they completed the first day of spring practice. The Lumberjacks battled the cool, but sunny weather for two hours as they got adjusted to what the team will begin to look like come fall.

Head coach Jerome Souers was pleased with what he saw in the short amount of time allowed for practice, but knows that this is only the beginning.

"Day one of spring is always limited, because we are wearing helmets and soft gear so our focus is on getting our techniques right and focusing on an 11-man group," Souers said. "We have a lot of individual things going on as we break into position groups, but our guys started the spring out well today."

One of the positions that fans are always curious about in the spring is the quarterback position. Both Kyren Poe and Chase Cartwright were in action today, as each of them got their fair share of reps. Poe started eight games for the Lumberjacks last fall, while Cartwright started four. The two will continue to battle it out into the fall for the starting gig.

Today was also the first day of practice for new offensive line coach Adam Stenavich and cornerbacks coach TJ Rushing. Both of whom joined NAU early this spring.

"I think that as coaches they fit in exactly where we needed them to," said Souers. "Adam has done a nice job in taking his skills and abilities and fitting them into to coach (Rich) Scangarello's offensive philosophy and the way we do things here at NAU. The same thing goes for TJ. I think he has transitioned well."

NAU returns to practice on Thursday, March 27 at 4 p.m. on the upper fields.